The post-modern world has no love for our Biblical God. Those who resist today's spiritual transformation are demeaned as fundamentalist foes -- enemies to the evolving vision of peace and unit. In fact, UNESCO's Declaration on Tolerance shows only intolerance for Biblical faith and evangelism:

Tolerance... involves the rejection of dogmatism and absolutism [confidence in God's Word]....Tolerance... means that one's views are not to be imposed on others.Intolerance is a global threat....

Scientific studies and networking should be undertaken to coordinate the international community's response to this global challenge, including... effective countermeasures, as well as research and monitoring...."[1] UNESCO's Declaration on Tolerance ...

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Thanksgiving holiday is a popular time for interfaith celebrations. Various gods of the world's religious systems are represented at these events. One has to wonder toward which god are the particpants expressing gratitude.

Here's a few examples:

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN: Hundreds Gather for Interfaith ServiceLeaders of Islam, Judaism and Catholicism celebrate at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Andrew. "The Interfaith Service not only acknowledges the community's differences, it embraces all beliefs in a true spirit of unity."SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Interfaith Service Stresses The Equal Worth of All People 19th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service held Sunday at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple, featuring remarks by Buddhist, Episcopal, American Indian, Latter-day Saint, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic leaders. "The goodness of God — in whatever form or theology — is that all people are of equal worth, despite the spectrum of their differences."MONTGOMERY CTY, MARYLAND: Interfaith Service Focuses on Religious CommonalitiesPresbyterian, Jewish, Muslim congregations come together for Thanksgiving. Normally, Hazzan Sunny Schnitzer's exclamation of "I'm a Muslim!" would have shocked members of the Bethesda Jewish Congregation. But at Saturday's services, Schnitzer was simply getting into the interfaith spirit with his counterpart, Sheikh Abdul Jaleel, and everyone had a good laugh.RALEIGH, N.C.: Interfaith Thanksgiving Service in RaleighHouses of worship come together to give thanks. Participating houses of worship include: Beth Meyer Synagogue, Millbrook Baptist Church, Millbrook United Methodist Church, Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, St. Philip Lutheran Church, St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, and Imam Abdul Hafeez Waheed, a chaplain at Duke University.

Friday, November 21, 2008

NORTH GRAFTON, MA (NOVEMBER 20, 2008) – Catholic performing and recording artist Susan Bailey is announcing the release of a brand new rosary project which will incorporate music, scripture and beautiful artwork to aid in the meditation experience.

“As the participant sings the rosary prayers, he/she can read the scripture verses and meditate upon the artwork,” explains Bailey. “Praying the rosary in this way allows sufficient time for meditation, opening up the possibilities for mystical experiences that will deepen that person’s relationship to our Lord Jesus, and His mother, Mary.”

Public safety is provided by the VCU Police Department, which is an Accredited Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission Agency. Given the security challenges of an open campus environment, The VCU Police Department has a tremendous responsibility in safeguarding students and the greater VCU community. The VCU Police department has a strong reputation for the public service it provides to VCU families.

Which raises the question, why would a VCU Police officer cite a private citizen for trespassing while on a public sidewalk adjacent to a VCU building?

Well, it seems that if the citizen is associated with The Richmond Biblical Evangelism Team (RBET), stands on a public sidewalk, and leans on a VCU landscape wall, the chances of being cited by VCU Police may increase significantly.

Recently, one Friday evening between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. The RBET was preaching across the street from the dorms on the corner of Franklin St. and Laurel. Two VCU Police officers approached the group and expressed concern for the group's safety.

One of the officers familiar with the RBET (Some RBET members are VCU students) noticed one of the RBET members leaning on a wall that circled the perimeter of a VCU building talking to someone. He was standing on a city sidewalk during the conversation.

The officer asked if the RBET team member if he was a VCU student. The RBET team member replied "No". The officer then escorted the RBET team member across the street and began writing him a citation for trespassing.

Of course, the presumption of innocence concept, "innocent til proving guilty" is a key element of American jurisprudence. However is standing on a public sidewalk, leaning on a wall of a public university a threat to public safety?

Is it illegal?

How does open air Bible preaching on a Friday night in downtown Richmond rate the official attention of VCU Police officers?

The venerable Richmond Times Dispatch covered the story, incorrectly reporting that "Three Richmond street preachers plan to keep using loudspeakers to spread their message, after a judge dismissed charges they violated the city noise ordinance."

That erroneous statement could have been avoided if the Times Dispatch exercised due diligence by making direct inquiry of the RBET. It would have learned that the RBET is complying with all existing noise ordinances.

“Well, he or she is somebody whose beliefs are very ‘traditional’ in an ecumenical sense where most any belief that considers itself Christian is accepted as simply another ‘tradition’. It’s a person that relishes the brevity and non-specitivity of the Apostles’ Creed, who believes that the bible becomes inspired by God as a given passage ’speaks’ to them, but whose politics are not aligned with anyone we broad-brush as being part of some nebulous religious right.”

In this piece, Ingrid describes her encounter with Tony Campolo at a National Religious Broadcasters convention. She and and an associate, a former homosexual from a New York ministry, approached Tony Campolo and asked why he was not teaching that Jesus Christ could deliver people from homosexuality. Ingrid writes:

Tony came unhinged when he found out who we were. He began hollering and screaming at us so loudly that the Zondervan PR rep had to pull him by the arm and tell him forcefully that they were “going to lunch.”

A crowd had gathered as Tony began screaming at us, “agenda, agenda, WHAT AGENDA? Gays don’t have any more of an agenda than Christians do!” Well, Tony, all these years later, the gay agenda is pretty obvious. Just ask the church members in Michigan whose church was invaded and desecrated by rioting gays. Just ask the elderly woman in San Fransisco who had her cross trampled by hate-spewing homosexuals. And you, Dr. Campolo, are still supporting that same agenda, just like you were then.

What has a state's constitution, the will of the people, a general election, the rule of law, and a definition of a noun got to do with Christianity or the Gospel? Tony Campolo talks like he believes Prop 8 is a biblical dogma forced on the people by the church. He is an embarrassment.

Tony Campolo seems confused. Does he plan on reaching gays when they're married? It certainly sounds like he needs to get out of the limelight and brushup on Christian apologetics. Just like many leaders in our political system need to step-down, many Christian leaders need to pass the torch. So it's Christians who are sending the bad messages? How about the recent attacks on Christians from tolerant homosexuals?

See these headlines and videos at Joe Caruso's Echo The Truth website:

Campolo said that, while he is “a conservative on the issue” of homosexuality, he opposed California’s recently adopted Proposition 8. The amendment to the California Constitution upends a court ruling that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples.

“I don’t know how we’re going to reach these brothers and sisters,” he said, “but I’m an evangelical and I’m going to win them to Christ.... And we’re not going to win them to Christ if we keep sending them bad messages, and we’ve sent them a bad message. I think the decision in California was in agreement with how I believe, but sometimes you’ve got to consider the person before you bang them over the head with your principles.”

“I don’t know how we’re going to reach these brothers and sisters...” It is obvious by omission that Dr.Campolo does not believe that the Scriptures are sufficient to deal with homosexuality. If Dr. Campolo doesn't know how to bear witness to the depravity of man and God's salvation plan, perhaps he should remain silent. Perhaps Dr. Campolo should open his Bible to see how Christ dealt with all sinners. How about Peter when he addressed the crowds at Pentecost? How about Paul in his letters to the churches? Or Paul's writings to Timothy on detailing what is a Biblical pastor? The Old Testament offers graphic examples of how God dealt with the sins of Israel.

Perhaps Dr. Campolo should visit Way of the Master . WOTM is an excellent resource for learning how to testify to the God of creation to anyone, regardless of political correctness.

Perhaps Dr. Campolo should stop acting like the God of the Scriptures is not sufficient to "win" the individual trapped in homosexuality.

Stop sending "them" bad messages, Dr. Campolo? Didn't Christ illustrate how to deal with personal sin...if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out! Have you considered sending the message that says all sinners sit under the indignation of God and will face His wrath and judgement if without the newness of life born of the Spirit by the Blood of Christ?

Perhaps Dr. Campolo should consider the "bad message" he is sending to the cloud of witnesses in the heavens and the God of the Scriptures. Dr. Campolo is sending a bad message to the homosexual community... no need to repent, there's nothing that can be done to change the way you are, and there is no God that can change it for you.

"...you’ve got to consider the person before you bang them over the head with your principles." Dr. Campolo's point makes sense in a social context. But Dr. Campolo was addressing a roomful of SBC pastors and leaders. Unfortunately, Dr. Campolo reveals his lack of confidence in the Scriptures in this statement. He creates a straw man inference that Bible preaching is the equivalent to banging people over the head. He also reduces and replaces the sufficiency of Scripture with man's principles within the context of his statement.

Christ aggressively rebuked the Pharisees and turned over the vendors tables of profit at the temple. He obviously considered the activity of the target audience. Would these two examples send "bad messages" because of the method by which the messages were delivered?

Perhaps The Baptist General Association of Virginia, The Virginia Baptist Mission Board and Dr. Campolo should stop politicizing homosexuality. Perhaps those who call themselves pastors should return to the Biblical calling of the pastor and call people to repent of sin, instead of embracing it.

Oh, but that would require trusting in the sufficiency of the Scriptures and God himself.

Next year the BGAV should invite former homosexual Steven Bennett to their Annual Meeting. Bennett is living proof of the sufficiency of Scripture and God's grace to set the captives free.

Compare Campolo's position on homosexuality with Stephen Bennett's statement below:

Stephen Bennett educates churches and congregations worldwide through preaching and teaching, expounding on the biblical truths of the sin of homosexuality and sexual immorality – bringing to light God’s perfect, biblical plan for mankind. According to God’s infallible Word, everyone is created either male or female: heterosexual. Sexual relations are only to be between one man and one woman – a husband and wife -- for life – within the grounds and confines of biblical marriage only. Anything outside of this – including fornication, adultery, pornography or anything else – is sexual sin according to God’s Word. Biblical abstinence is to be adhered to until a man and woman enter the biblical covenant of marriage together as husband and wife. Biblical, sexual purity is this ministry’s overriding and uncompromising message.

If you or someone you knew was trapped in homosexuality, who would you call...Tony Campolo or Steven Bennett?

There can be absolutely no doubt that the globalist movers and shakers intend to take full advantage of the international financial and economic turmoil to bring international banking and other financial activities under international (read: UN) authority, and little doubt as to how the program is going to unfold....the real action, for anyone who was paying close attention, was at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations last Friday, when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed a special session ...lobbying for an ambitious new plan to globalize financial activity. Friday's presentation at the CFR left little doubt what Brown (and, presumably, a very sympathetic globalist elite at the CFR and elsewhere) truly intends to accomplish with the negotiations that kicked off over the weekend. Brown spoke of the "birth pangs of the new global order," and called for "cross border supervision" of financial activity "wherever it is necessary" as well as for "better surveillance of the world economy."

Monday, November 17, 2008

It was the second major protest within days in New York, the previous one targeting the Mormon Church — hence the reference to multiple wives — for its role in financing the anti-gay marriage campaign.

California's overturning of state gay marriage rights may have sparked a national movement, with protests held yesterday in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. The reaction follows the success of Proposition 8, which overturned a Supreme Court decision legalising gay marriage in California.

The German news site DW-World.DE captured the headlines of various European papers regarding the G20 summit on the global financial crisis. Here's just a few:

Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised the summit as a "first step on the way to a new world financial order..." Britain's Financial Times said "the G20 summit is as historic as the crisis it responds to... the world working together can emerge healthy from this crisis. Italy's La Repubblica: "The only clear signal from this G20 was the acceleration of the birth of a new world order..."

Friday, November 14, 2008

Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD. You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans. (Isaiah 2:5-6)

Eastern-Style Meditation As The Bridge To Unite All Religions And Transform Mankind

Building on It’s High Time To Realize The Importance of Mysticism, a post over at the Apprising Ministries outreach Christian Research Net, below we will show you that when Dr. Marcus Litz, Director, Goethe-Institut, says the Eastern-style meditation of mysticism “could also facilitate an East-West dialogue and could be a bridge between Islam and Christianity” he’s hardly alone. In his 2004 book Speaking My Mind Tony Campolo wrote:

"...a theology of mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions but have much in common with each other…

I don’t know what to make of the Muslim mystics, especially those who have come to be known as the Sufis. What do they experience in their mystic experiences? Could they have encountered the same God we do in our Christian mysticism?… The founder of this movement was Hasan Al Basri (A.D. 642-728)… [Basri's] attempt to bring about religious reform very much paralleled the path of Francis [of Assisi], both in style and spiritual direction. Both men sensed a sacred presence in everything and claimed to have experienced a mystical union with God." (149, 150, emphasis mine)

This is precisely what Trappist monk Thomas Merton, one of most highly prized Golden Buddhas of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) and master of Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP) was after; and do you really think it’s some kind of an odd coincidence that Merton is a hero to Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster? At the heart of his brand of spurious of Spiritual Formation, which is given a veneer of scholasticism by Foster’s spiritual twin Dallas Willard, is ecumenicism; and for the more hardcore mystics meditation that will, in their minds, quite literally transform people by leading us to a higher consciousness resulting in an improved version of mankind.

With President George W. Bush in the lead, they have all come to present their compliments to King Abdullah, the Saudi ruler, who has turned the Manhattan hotel and the world body into an extension of his court, complete, it would seem, with a Majlis to receive petitioners.

Naturally, all the VIPs visiting him are eager to congratulate his majesty on his interfaith initiative, a gathering of religious and political leaders which took place this week under the auspices of the United Nations. The meeting has attracted extravagant praise from, among others, Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, and Shimon Peres, the veteran Israeli president.

It is a fact that the king’s initiative is unprecedented and bold, taking place despite the displeasure of many influential religious clerics at home. It is also a fact that he is the first Saudi leader to have travelled to the Vatican, opening dialogue between the two largest religions.

The late Robert Webber, like many emergent leaders, was trying to differentiate between Roman Catholicism and Catholicism (as a universal body). However, the Roman Catholic Church does not make this distinction because they claim an apostolic succession of papacy (popes) beginning with the apostle Peter.

Therefore all Catholicism is Roman Catholicism. Some in the emerging church do not show an attachment to the authority of the papacy but embrace the practices and early history of the Catholic Church.

“Almost without exception, leaders in the emergent conversation embrace mysticism (i.e., contemplative spirituality) in their theological playgrounds; it is the element that binds the movement together.”

This mystical formation, also known as ancient wisdom, is occultic by its very nature. And through the emerging church, this occult wisdom is overtaking the spirituality of countless lives. Mysticism is rooted in pantheism (God is in all things) and panentheism (all is God). Since mysticism is the very steam that drives the emerging church, to exclude it from critique is to side-step the real danger of this movement.

Contemplative prayer, spiritual formation, the interspiritual path – they inevitably lead all who follow them to the same non-biblical conclusions, and if not repented of – ultimate spiritual destruction.

Dr Jurgen Wasim Frembgen said that the Sufis had made a massive contribution to Islam and their message of love, brotherhood, and universalism transcended the earthly barriers of caste, colour, and creed.

A Dervish, he said, was one who fluently communed with The Almighty and was his ambassador to mankind interpreting his will and his plan for His Creation. Mysticism, he said, was the essence of religion.

Dr Marcus Litz, Director, Goethe-Institut, said that it was high time people realised the importance of mysticism in Europe. This, he said, could also facilitate an East-West dialogue and could be a bridge between Islam and Christianity

Looks like Tony Campolo isn't the only influencer who believes that world peace can be achieved by the emptying the mind in order to be yoked with the universal consciousness.

U.S. economic mettle tested as emboldened leaders of the world's 20 largest countries gather in Washington

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The role of the United States as the world's economic leader will be tested this weekend when emboldened leaders of the 20 most powerful countries meet in Washington to address the global financial crisis.

Some European leaders are hailing the summit as the next Bretton Woods - a reference to the historic talks in the latter days of WWII that in effect made the dollar the world's dominant currency and laid the foundation for the economic order of the past 60 years.

Listen to Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries and author Ray Yungendiscuss how the world's "spirituality" has changed in 40 years. Starting with the 60s counterculture that was guided by the Hindu East, up until today's occultism, it has all followed a diabolical plan to seduce all people and even the evangelical church. And to a point, it has been successful. Can we stop the train that has already left the station since it is headed for the one world religion? Probably not, but we can be more aware of it and sound the alarm to all those we care about.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Gay marriage is legal in Connecticut now that a judge has cleared the way. New Haven Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert ruled at a brief hearing Wednesday morning that gay and lesbian couples now may pick up marriage license forms at town and city clerks’ offices statewide.

"The Rev. Paige Patterson, president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary told yesterday's meeting that the alliance also contains "gay-friendly" churches that support same-sex marriage.

"What you give your money and name to, you give tacit approval to," he said."

The Baptist General Association of Virginia was greeted at the BWA 2005 Annual meeting as one of the BWA's newest members. America's Pastor, Rick Warren shared a few thought provoking comments at that 2005 meeting:

Rick Warren, the other keynote speaker, likewise affirmed that Baptists from around the world can “have unity without uniformity.” Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., told reporters the withdrawal of Southern Baptists from BWA was a “silly” mistake. “I see absolutely zero reason in separating my fellowship from anybody,” he declared.

“God has called us to enjoy and fellowship with each other and work together. We’re all in this together,” he said, adding Baptists can “celebrate our diversity and celebrate our unity.”

Perhaps Warren's ecumenically-loaded statements were a foreshadowing of what was to come for the Baptist World Alliance. The BWA is now formal partners with the Global Christian Forum.

The Global Christian Forum describes itself as:

The Global Christian Forum seeks to offer new opportunities for broadening and deepening encounters. It is especially intended to promote new relationships between and among Christian constituencies...

The Global Christian Forum is pursuing this goal through the creation of a 'space' where participants all meet on an equal basis, to foster mutual respect, and to explore and address together common concerns.

...there has been no place where representatives of all the main Christian churches and church families, and their international organizations can join together around one table. The Global Christian Forum aims to create such a place, independent of existing structures.

The gathering brought together sixty representatives of the historic Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Evangelical movements to share their future goals and participate in forum discussions on nurturing a broader ecumenical movement.

Hubert van Beek, Secretary of the Global Christian Forum, told Christian Today: "With this meeting we will leave the experimental past and move into more visible ways in actively serving the global church."

“Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us;for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.”(Job 21:14)

“Man’s apostasy began in an affectation of forbidden knowledge,but is kept up by an affectation of forbidden ignorance.”– Matthew Henry

We live in a time of great apostasy when many choose to ignore or disbelieve the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation, the message of the Cross. Many of the new heresies are intricate, complex, always evolving, and “emerging” with new theologies, philosophies, terminologies, eschatologies, ecclesiologies, etc. These false teachings puff up people with pride in their human knowledge and lead them to “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth”(2 Timothy 3:7).

Error-filled teachings reflect an artificial light that beckons to those wandering in darkness. The neon beacon of heresy is alluring, creating warm feelings, and bestows a temporal vision that seduces the believer off the narrow path. But it does not convict man of sin in his heart.

The Gospel is the Light of Truth. Matthew Henry in his Commentary on John 3:1-21 says it is a “terror to the wicked world” and it makes men’s sins manifest, showing them “the evil of their transgressions…. The Gospel has its convictions, to make way for its consolations.” Just as this Gospel light shining into the darkness of men’s hearts “convinces and terrifies evildoers, so it confirms and comforts those that walk in their integrity.”

Matthew Henry declares that those “who do not come to the light” of the Gospel of Salvation have an “antipathy to saving knowledge” and a “damning ignorance.” Harsh words in our era of touchy-feely assuages to the conscience! But it is a fact of human nature that men choose to willfully disregard the Truth, preferring instead the soft comforts of empty assurances and synthetic lights.

LONDON (Reuters) - The international financial crisis has given world leaders a unique opportunity to create a truly global society, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown will say in a keynote foreign policy speech on Monday.

In his annual speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet, Brown -- who has spearheaded calls for the reform of international financial institutions -- will say Britain, the United States and Europe are key to forging a new world order.

"The alliance between Britain and the U.S. -- and more broadly between Europe and the U.S. -- can and must provide leadership, not in order to make the rules ourselves, but to lead the global effort to build a stronger and more just international order," an excerpt from the speech says.

Even though the former CEO-style pastor, Jerry Parker left last year, his replacement, David Prather carries on the IBC style of patronizing and ignoring individuals who have concerns over doctrinal issues. In February, 2008 Prather quickly called a concerned church member "dogmatic and divisive" after evidence was presented to him regarding the unbiblical nature of the Purpose Driven program.

Assistant Pastor Fred Atkins expressed with great pride that he didn't read a lick of information of what was presented to him by a concerned church member regarding the purpose driven program that was rolled out under Parker.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Pastor Bob DeWaay is the pastor of Twin City Fellowship in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He's also the author of the Critical Issues Commentaries. He appeared on Crosstalk to discuss why Evangelicals are returning to Rome and the abandonment of Sola Scriptura.

7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, "Son of man, dig in the wall." So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, "Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here." 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. 11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.'" 13 He said also to me, "You will see still greater abominations that they commit."

3) The BGAV's stance on marriage is that it is between a man and a woman, but Tony Campolo accepts it.

4) The BGAV says that Christ is the only way to heaven, But Tony Campolo espouses heresy on that matter.And they want him to host their annual meeting? Am I missing something here, or can you say the word APOSTASY???!!!

But suppose like me you were intrigued by the Spiritual Needs button on the front page of the VBMB website so you click on it and then you notice Spiritual Guidance. Then you say: If I was a betting man I’d wager a search for “Richard Foster” will turn up favorable materials about him from this “Protestant” website. Sure enough under Resources for Christian Growth we find Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, which my friend Dr. Gary Gilley rightly called “an encyclopedia of theological error.”

We can’t protect or expand the cause of Christ by human political and social activism, no matter how great or sincere the efforts. Ours is a spiritual battle waged against worldly ideologies and dogmas arrayed against God, and we achieve victory over them only with the weapon of Scripture. The apostle Paul writes: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

...God is not calling us to wage a culture war that would seek to transform our countries into “Christian nations.” To devote all, or even most, of our time, energy, money, and strategy to putting a façade of morality on the world or over our governmental and political institutions is to badly misunderstand our roles as Christians in a spiritually lost world.

...Using temporal methods to promote legislative and judicial change, and resorting to external efforts of lobbying and intimidation to achieve some sort of “Christian morality” in society is not our calling—and has no eternal value. Only the gospel rescues sinners from sin, death, and hell.

The rise of the Christian neo-socialists has been quite surprising. These Marxists have been using the Sermon of the Mount and Beatitudes and “Jesus’ teaching” to smoke screen the resurgence of a Christian Socialist agenda. It’s amazing.

At least in the U.K. leftist Christians are honest about being socialists. You will see no difference between this agenda and anything you’ll find in Jim Wallace’s neo-socialist organization Sojourners. Here’s part of the neo-socialist Christian manifesto from the U.K.’s Christian Socialist Movement. At least these folks are honest. It should sound familiar...

Some christian leaders look up to Tony Campolo. What's even more scary is that some christian youth pastors look up to him and consider Campolo to be a mentor of theirs. I get nervous when I realize this. I know of one youth pastor in particular who has made this statement, that Tony Campolo was his mentor. I have heard this youth pastor reference Campolo on more than one occasion while addressing the youth.

... If you're a parent or a teenager whose youth pastor mentions his admiration for Tony Campolo please take a look at some of these quotes of his and you let me know if you're comfortable with anyone looking up to Tony Campolo as a mentor or as a christian leader:

"Jesus is the only Savior, but not everybody who is being saved by Him is aware that He is the one who is doing the saving" -Tony Campolo EP News Service, Oct. 4, 1985

“That a new humanity will be brought forth from this Christ consciousness in each person."-Tony Campolo"A Reasonable Faith" 1983 page 65

"going to heaven is like going to Philadelphia....There are many ways....It doesn't make any difference how we go there. We all end up in the same place."-Tony Campolo"Carpe Diem: Seize the Day", 1994, pages 85-88

“There is a feminine side of God. I always knew this ... It is this feminine side of God I find in Jesus that makes me want to sing duets with Him ... Not only do I love the feminine is Jesus, but the more I know Jesus, the more I realize that Jesus loves the feminine in me. Until I accept the feminine in my humanness, there will be a part of me that cannot receive the Lord's love. ... There is that feminine side of me that must be recovered and strengthened if I am to be like Christ ... And until I feel the feminine in Jesus, there is a part of Him which I cannot identify.” -Tony Campolo"Carpe Diem: Seize the Day", 1994, pages 85-88

"Beyond these models of reconciliation, a theology of mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions but have much in common with each other."-Tony Campolo(Page 149, Speaking My Mind)

"I am saying that there is no salvation apart from Jesus; that's my evangelical mindset. However, I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians" -Tony Campolo (National Liberty Journal, 8/99)

"...what can I say to an Islamic brother who has fed the hungry, and clothed the naked? You say, "But he hasn't a personal relationship with Christ." I would argue with that. And I would say from a Christian perspective, in as much as you did it to the least of these you did it unto Christ. You did have a personal relationship with Christ, you just didn't know it."-Tony Campolo from EVANGELICALS AND INTERFAITH COOPERATION, An Interview by Shane Claiborne

There Campolo will be bringing his brand of neo-Gnostic wisdom which he supposedly gleaned from his practice of corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) along with the reimagined social gospel of the Emerging Church to enlighten Southern Baptists in Virginia.

But the problem with this spurious CSM being spread as a “Protestantized” version of so-called Spiritual Formation is that it originated in the antibiblical lifestyle of hermits and hermettes in the desert of Egypt (hello!) and then flowered in the monastic traditions of apostate Roman Catholicism.

There are four questions within Truthfully Speaking that are of particular interest, given the hosting of Tony Campolo by the VBMB at the BGAV Annual meeting November 11 & 12, 2008:

1. What is the BGAV’s position on abortion? pg. 5In November 1997, the BGAV reaffirmed its opposition to abortion...we reject any indiscriminate attitude toward abortion, as contrary to the biblical view...

A group of Catholic and evangelical leaders -- men such as Joel Hunter, Jim Wallis, Doug Kmiec, and Tony Campolo -- held a teleconference Tuesday to declare that Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have taken a "historic" and "positive step forward...in establishing common ground that will lead to abortion reduction."

Several pro-life leaders have taken issue with those who held the teleconference to tout the Democrats' platform. One of them is Mark Crutcher, the president of Life Dynamics, Inc. in Denton, Texas.

He says the religious leaders in question are "garden variety pro-aborts" who are trying to make Obama and the Democratic platform seem reasonable...

So I think that what's happening right now is that God is showing us who the people are that we can count on -- and obviously these pro-aborts, like the ones you're mentioning here, are not people that can be counted on," the pro-life activist asserts. "They're heretics and they're liars."

According to Mark Crutcher, Tony Campolo's position on abortion makes him a "heretic and a liar". Does the BGAV / VBMB's Campolo invitation and this BGAV document make the BGAV and the VBMB "heretics and liars" as well? Does it create a hypocritical situation for the BGAV / VBMB?

2.Why doesn’t the BGAV take a stand opposing homosexual behavior and homosexual church leadership? pg. 6It definitely has taken a stand opposing both...We affirm the biblical teaching that homosexual behavior is sinful and unacceptable for Christians. Therefore, we do not endorse elevating those who practice it to positions of leadership.The response details the BGAV's severing relations with Averett University:

“We ... express our strong dismay and disagreement at the tone and content of public comments by [the professor] on homosexuality and … Scripture ….We are disappointed in Averett University’s decision to host an appearance by Bishop John Shelby Spong to speak to the community and students.” The comments are “contrary to stated core values of Virginia Baptists”Editor's note:Campolo advocates gay rights. In Campolo's book, Red Letter Christians, he writes:

"Marriage should be viewed as an institution ordained by God and should be out of the control of the state. Of course, homosexual couples could go to churches that welcome and affirm gay marriage and get their unions blessed there, but isn't that the way it should be in a nation that guarantees people the right to promotion religion according to their personal convictions?"

"According to Tony Campolo, in his book Speaking My Mind, he has several suggestions for Christians - the bottom line is he believes we need to "redefine ourselves,"... "recast our opinions," and "entertain the possibility that we might be in error" about particular issues. He says we need to stop being so stubborn about these issues. What are those issues he speaks of? They are everything from mysticism to homosexuality..."

3.What position does the BGAV take on marriage? pg. 8The sanctity of marriage continues to face attacks from a variety of cultural attitudes and moral lapses,including those of public and religious leaders. (emphasis mine)

...Today, as never before, believers need strongly to affirm and exemplify Biblical ideals in marriage and family....The Virginia Baptist Mission Board emphatically reaffirms the Biblical principles that under gird the sanctity of marriage, recognizes the Biblical call to accountability, and challenges all persons of faith to live out this ideal.Editor's note: How could the BGAV / VBMB NOT view Campolo's view of same sex marriages and gay rights as an assault on the Word of God and the family?

Does the BGAV / VBMB's Campolo invitation and this BGAV document make the BGAV and the VBMB "heretics and liars" as well? Does it create a hypocritical situation for the BGAV / VBMB?

4. How does your organization view other world religions, such as Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Secular Humanists, Latter Day Saints, etc.? pg.10For that answer, go to John 3, where Jesus is in a conversation with Nicodemus concerning the Kingdom of God. Verse 3 says: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” There are no other criteria for acceptance into the Kingdom as far as the BGAV is concerned. We do believe that adherents of other religions should have total freedom of choice in their worship, but as Christians we still believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.Editor's note: How does Tony Campolo view the conversion experience?

Exhibit A:January 27, 2007 edition of the Edmonton Journal where reporter Don Retson asks Campolo a straight forward question. Take a look at the doublespeak for yourself:

Q. Do you believe non-Christians can go to heaven?

A. That’s a good question to ask because the way we stand is we contend that trusting in Jesus is the way to heaven. However, we do not know who Jesus will bring into the kingdom and who He will not. We are very very careful about pronouncing judgment on anybody. We leave judgment in the hands of God and we are saying Jesus is the way. We preach Jesus, but we have no way of knowing to whom the grace of God is extended. (Online source)

Exhibit B:" ...Campolo says that if the Holy Spirit can’t manage to turn someone’s heart, God may use your own psychic powers to do it. And by the way, he suggests, those psychic powers can be honed by the mystical practices that he describes later in the book."

Exhibit CTony Campolo says his personal encounter began when he discovered Christ through a practice known as “centering prayer.” Though not found in the Bible, the ritual of centering prayer is a pillar of Eastern mysticism.

In my case intimacy with Christ had developed gradually over the years, primarily through what Catholics call “centering prayer.” Each morning, as soon as I wake up, I take time—sometimes as much as a half hour—to center myself on Jesus. I say his name over and over again to drive back the 101 things that begin to clutter my mind the minute I open my eyes. Jesus is my mantra, as some would say.

Tony Campolo claims he became born again through this practice called centering prayer. He encourages his young readers to get closer to Christ by embracing this ritual. Centering prayer is becoming very popular within the Emerging Church Movement. Is it biblical?

Exhibit DClaiborne: Both Muslims and Christians are very evangelical in the sense of desiring others to come to faith in their God. When we talk about inter-religious cooperation, does that mean that we need to stop trying to convert each other?

Campolo: We don’t have to give up trying to convert each other. What we have to do is show respect to one another. And to speak to each other with a sense that even if people don’t convert, they are God’s people, God loves them, and we do not make the judgment of who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. (Online source)

Editor's note: This is a Biblical call to accountability, and this blog challenges the BGAV, the VBMB and it's member churches, to practice what you preach and cancel Tony Campolo's address of the BGAV 185th Annual Meeting.

Truthfully speaking, if the BGAV / VBMB holds the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God as their document claims, there would be no choice but to cancel the ecumenical, mystical, political, social activist Tony Campolo.